Charge of assault filed against Ofosu Ampofo is right – Court

The Accra High Court has ruled that the charge of assault on a public officer filed against the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, is right in law.

Lawyers for Mr Ofosu Ampofo had filed an application with a case that the charges were defective because the prosecution failed to provide any particulars on them.

They, therefore, wanted the court to strike out the two counts of assault on a public officer against the NDC National Chairman.

But in a ruling Friday, the court, presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, held that the said defects argued by the defence were not fatal and that the charges were recognisable under the law.

He, therefore, ordered the commencement of the trial on July 8, 2019.

Case of the A-G

According to the prosecution’s facts, following the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election debacle on January 31, 2019, Mr Ofosu Ampofo met with some NDC party communicators on February 3, 2019.

The facts explained that at the said meeting, Mr Ofosu Ampofo and Boahen set out a road map of criminal activities, including violence against the Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson, Mrs Jean Mensa and the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante.

It said an audio recording of the said meeting was leaked leading to investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service into the comments on the tape.

The prosecution added that on February 20, 2019, Boahen granted a radio interview in which he confirmed his participation in the said meeting and also revealed that the leaked audio recording was a true reflection of what transpired at the February 3, 2019 meeting.